Locomotive stoker



April 10, 1951 E. A. TURNER LOCOMQTIVE STOKER Filed Aug. '7, 1947 2Sheefis-Sheet 1 April 10, 1951 I E. A. TURNER LOCOMOTIVE STOKER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed' Aug. 7, 1947 II n INVENTOR.

E. HCHEE 77Je/vsz Patented Apr. 10, 1951 LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Edwin ArcherTurner, Scarsdale, N. Y., assignor to The Standard Stoker Company,Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Application August 7, 1947,Serial No. 767,033 X My invention relates to a flexible and sectionalfuel conveying conduit system and particularly to a stoker conduitsystem mounted in and extending from beneath the fuel bin of a tender tothe firebox of a locomotive.

In the normal operation of a locomotive and tender, relativelongitudinal movement occurs therebetween as they travel over curves,and as slack therebetween is taken up in starting and stopping. It is,therefore, essential that the stoker conduit system of a stoker fordelivering fuel from the tender bin to the locomotive firebox, be soconstructed and mounted as to allow for such relative longitudinalmovement.

Various Ways have been previously suggested ible and telescopic stokerconduit system and its arrangement with a locomotive and tender'thatpermits of relative longitudinal movement between parts thereof asrelative longitudinalmovement between the locomotive and tender occurs.

Another object'of the invention is to provide a novel and practicaltelescopic stoker tender unit, to compensate for relative longitudinalmovement occurring between the locomotive and tender, the major portionof the tender unit of the stoker being rigidly mounted on the tender.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a stoker conduit systemwherein the forward end thereof is rigidly mounted on the locomotive andthe rearward end thereof is rigidl mounted on the tender, a novel andpractical construction and arrangement of parts aifording the necessaryextensibility to compensate for relative longitudinal movement betweenan inter-coupled locomotive and tender.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the followingdescription is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure l is a central vertical longitudinal section throughadjacent ends-of a locomotive and tender withthe novel stoker conduitsystem applied thereto, and shown partly in similar section and partlyin elevation;

Figure 2 is a sectionalview taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; I 7' 5Claims. (Cl. 198-15) ill Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a modification of the telescopic troughportions of the stoker conduit system;

Figure 5 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the modifiedform of the invention shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on theline 1-1 of Figure 5.

0n Figure l of the drawings there is shown an intercoupled locomotiveand tender, the locomotive bein indicated by the'reference character L,the tender by T, and the coupling connection therebetween by C. Thecoupling C, of any well known construction, permits articulation betweenthe locomotive and tender, and provides for the usual amount of relativelongitudinal movement between them.

Fuel is conveyed from beneath the fuel bin ID of the tender to thefirebox l I of the locomotive by a stoker, indicated generally by theletter S, which includes a conduit system comprising a trough conduitsection l2 mounted on the tender, a discharge conduit section It rigidlymounted on the locomotive, and an intermediate conduit section 14connecting the conduit sections I2 and 13. A flexibl connected sectionalscrew conveyor l5 advances the fuel through the conduit sections l2, l3and I4.

The trough section l2 includes a relatively short U-shaped front troughportion I 6 and a relatively long U-shaped rear trough portion H whichare telescopically connected, as and for the purpose hereinafterdescribed, to provide for relative longitudinal movement therebetween.

The rear trough portion I! is preferably of built-up constructionincluding the front cast trough member I8, having an integrally castbase l9; the rear cast trough member 20, having an integrally cast base2! and a preferably integrally cast gear housing 22; and a bent U-shapedsheet metal trough member 23 received at its opposite ends in andsecured in any suitable manner to the cast trough members 18 and 20. Itis apparent, however, that the rear trough'portion ll may be formed asan integral unitary casting or built up in any suitable manner, ifdesired. The rear trough portion I! is rigidl secured through the basei9 and base 2i to the tender underframe 24 in any suitable manner.

The forward end of the rigidly mounted rear trough portion I7 isslightly enlarged and isar ranged to receive the rearward end of thefront trough portion 6. The telescopic connection between the troughportions It and H provides for relative longitudinal movementtherebetween as relative longitudinal movement between the locomotiveand tender occurs. Also, as the boiier of the locomotive expands andcontracts, the front trough portion l5 slides inwardly and outwardly inthe rear trough portion H.

The sidewalls of the enlarged forward end of the rear trough portion l!are formed at their upper ends with the inwardly extending flangesforming guideways 25 and 26, as best shown in Figure 2, and are arrangedto receive the upper ends of the side walls of the front trough por tion58. It is evident then, that while the front trough portion 5 is free toslide longitudinally with respect to the rear trough portion ll, otherrelative movement between the trough portions l6 and i! is arrested.

The front trough portion :5 is provided at its forward end with a hollowspherical shell 2? arranged to be received in the vertically splitspherical clamp 28 of the intermediate conduit section l4, forming auniversal joint connection between the intermediate conduit section i4and the trough section l2. The lower end of the discharge conduitsection IB is formed with a horizontally split spherical seat 29,receiving the ball member 3% of the intermediate conduit section :4, toform a universal joint connection between the two conduit sections. Theuniversal joint connections in the conduit system allow for relativeangular movement between the conduit sections as relative angularmovement between the locomotive and tender occurs in traveling overcurving track.

While a crusher (not shown), for reducing oversize lumps of coal to asuitable size for conveyance through the conduit system and for firing,may be mounted on the front wall SI of the front trough portion It, asan alternative a crusher may be mounted on the front wall 32 of aU-shaped strap member 33 which is attached in any suitable mannerthrough its side walls 34 and 35 to the side walls of the rear troughmember 23. If the crusher (not shown) is attached to the wall 3!, thenthe U-shaped member 33 1s dispensed with. The crusher may, therefore,alternatively be secured to the movable trough portion or to the rigidtrough portion of the trough conduit section l2.

It will be observed that, in the stoker construction above described,the entire trough 12, including the rigid rear trough portion H and thelongitudinally slidable front trough portion PE, is open at its top toreceive fuel from the bin it and the region of the crusher (not shown)is readily accessible should foreign material, such as rail spikes,tramp iron, etc., be caught between the screw conveyor lii and thecrusher or the restricted opening 36 between the trough portion l5. andthe spherical shell extension 2?.

In Figures 4, 5, 6 and '7 is shown a modified form of the invention,only that portion incorporating structural differences beingillustrated. In this construction the bent trough sheet 4% of therigidly mounted rear trough portion 4|, extends forwardly of the troughsupport casting 42. The front trough portion 43 fits closely about theextension 44 of the trough sheet 49 and is supported therefrom. Themeans for supporting the front trough portion 43, includes the inturnedflanges 45 and 46 extending inwardly and then downwardly from the upperends of the respective sidewalls 41 and 48 of the trough portion 43. Theinturned flanges 45 and 46 rest on sidewalls 49 and 50, respectively, ofthe trough sheet extension 44.

It is evident that while the front trough portion 43 is slidablelongitudinally with respect to the rear trough portion 4i, otherrelative movement be"ween the trough portions 4! and 43 is arrested. Asin the preferred form of the invention, a crusher (not shown) may bemounted on the front wall 5| of the trough sheet extension 44, or ifdesired, this wall may be removed and the crusher mounted on the frontwall 52 of the longitudinally movable front trough portion 43. A pair ofslots 53 and 54 in the forward end of the trough sheet extension 44provide ways for the arcuate inwardly extending wall 55 to permitlongitudinal movement of the front trough portion 43.

A removable wear plate 56 is secured in any suitable manner on thebottom of the forward end of the trough sheet 40, where most of the weartakes place.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that while the trough conduit sectionof the stolrer is arranged to compensate for relative longitudinalmovement between the locomotive and tender, the major portion of thetrough is adapted to be rigidly mounted on the tender. Only a smallforward portion of the trough is pulled forward or pushed rearward onthe tender by the locomotive as relative longitudinal movement betweenthe two vehicles occurs, thereby minimizing the strain imposed on thefront sections of the conduit system and on parts of the locomotive ascompared to constructions in which the entire trough section is pulledforward or pushed rearward in the tender by the locomotive. At the sametime the conduit system dispenses with relatively longitudinally movingparts between the forward end of the trough and the discharge conduitand the entire trough is open to the fuel bin to receive fuel therefrom.

I claim:

1. A stoker for an intercoupled locomotive and tender, including a fueldischarge conduit section adapted to be rigidly mounted on thelocomotive, a fuel receiving conduit comprising a rearward open mouthforwardly opening trough member adapted to be rigidly mounted on thetender and a forward open mouth rearwardiy opening trough member mountedtelescopically with the forward end of said rearward member to providefor relative longitudinal movement thcrebetween, said trough membersbeing in axial alinement with their telescoped end portions incircumambient relation, and an inextensible intermediate conduitflexibly connected at its ends with said discharge conduit section andsaid forward open mouth trough member.

2. A stoker for an intercoupled locomotive and tender, including a fueldischarge conduit section adapted to be rigidly mounted on thelocomotive, a fuel receiving conduit comprising a rearward open mouthforwardly opening trough member adapted to be rigidly mounted on thetender and a forward open mouth rearwardlyopening trough member mountedtelescopically with and supported by the forward end of said rearwardmember to provide for relative longitudinal movement therebetween, saidtrough members being in axial alinement with their telescoped endportions in circumambient relation, and an inextensible intermediateconduit flexibly connected at its ends with said discharge conduitsection and said forward open mouth trough member.

3. A stoker for an intercoupled locomotive and tender, including a fueldischarge conduit section adapted to be rigidly mounted on thelocomotive, a fuel receiving conduit comprising a rearward open mouthforwardly opening trough member adapted to be rigidly mounted on thetender and a forward open mouth rearwardly opening trough member mountedtelescopically with the forward end ofsaid rearward member to providefor relative longitudinal movement therebetween, the overlappingsurfaces of said telescoping members fitting closely one within theother, and inturned flanges formed along the upper edge of theoverlapping side walls of the outer of said members and extending overthe upper edge of the overlapped side walls of the inner of saidmembers, said overlapping surfaces and flanges arresting any butrelative longitudinal movement between said members, and an inextensibleintermediate conduit flexibly connected at its ends with, said dischargeconduit section and said forward open mouth trough member.

4. A stoker for an intercoupled locomotive and tender, including a fueldischarge conduit section adapted to be rigidly mounted on thelocomotive, a fuel receiving, conduit comprising a rearward open mouthforwardly opening trough member adapted to be rigidly mounted on thetender and a forward open mouth rearwardly opening trough member mountedtelescopically within the forward end of said rearward member to providefor relative longitudinal movement therebetween, the overlappingsurfaces of said telescoping members fitting closely one within theother, and inturned flanges formed along the upper edge of the forwardportion of the side walls of said rearward trough member and extendinover the upper edge of the side walls of said forward trough member,said overlapping surfaces and flanges arresting any but longitudinalmovement of said forward trough member with respect to said rearwardtrough member, and an inextensible intermediate conduit flexiblyconnected at its ends with said discharge conduit section and saidforward open mouth trough member.

5. A stoker for an intercoupled locomotive and tender, including a fueldischarge conduit section adapted to be rigidly mounted on thelocomotive, a fuel receiving conduit comprising a rearward open mouthforwardly opening trough member adapted to be rigidly mounted on thetender and a forward open mouth rearwardly opening trough member mountedtelescopically about the for- Ward end of said rearward member toprovide for relative longitudinal movement therebetween, the overlappinsurfaces of said telescoping members fitting closely one within theother, and inturned flanges formed along the upper edge of the sidewalls of said forward trough member and extending over the upper edge ofthe forward portion of the side walls of said rearward trough member,said overlapping surfaces and flanges arresting any but longitudinalmovement of said forward trough member with respect to said rearwardtrough member, and an inextensible intermediate conduit flexiblyconnected at its ends with said discharge conduit section and saidforward open mouth trough member.

E. ARCHER TURNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,702,908 Lower Feb. 19, 19291,818,115 Claghorn Aug. 11, 1931 1,984,025 Lippert Dec. 11, 19342,103,212 Turner et a1 Dec. 21, 1937 2.413.448 Hanna Dec. 31, 1946

